Byung Gwon Lee

Environment and Process Technology Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Cheongryang, Seoul, Korea 

Dimethylcarbonate [DMC, (CH30)2C0] is a versatile chemical substance, which has been used mainly as a carbonylating, methylating, or methoxycarbonylating agent. It can be effectively used as an environmentally benign substitute for phosgene in polycarbonates and isocyanates synthesis, and for dimethyl sulfate in various methylation reactions.  

Dimethylcarbonate is sparingly soluble in water and miscible with the most organic solvent, particularly polar solvents such as esters, ketones, ethers, and alcohols. Dimethylcarbonate is extremely stable to pyrolysis up to at least 623 K. Dimethylcarbonate undergoes base-or acid-catalyzed hydrolysis to produce methanol and carbon dioxide. One of the most important properties of DMC is low toxicity compared with conventional methylating agents or carbonylation agents. Table 1 summarizes the physical and toxicological properties of DMC. 

Dimethylcarbonate is a transparent liquid with a melting and boiling point of 277 and 363 K, respectively, and the specific gravity is close to unity. Thus, in a sense, the physical properties are close to those of water. 

The traditional synthesis of DMC used to require toxic, hazardous phosgene as a reagent. Nonphosgene alternative routes for DMC production basically have 

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Byung Gwon Lee, Jung Shik Kang, Dae Hyun Kim, Sang Deuk Lee and Dong Ju Moon ... 

Lee, Byung Gwon Kim, Hoon Sik Kim, Honggon Lee, Sang Deuk Chung, Moon Jo. Fluorination process and catalysts for the concurrent production of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and pentafluoroethane from 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane. US 5723700 A 19980303 (1998). 

Kim, Honggon Kim, Hoon Sik Lee, Byung Gwon Kwon, Young Soo Park, Kun You. Preparation of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane by catalytic fluorination of 1,1,1-trichloro-ethane and l-fluoro-l,l-dichloroethane. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 3(3), 203-209 (1997). 

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